Wednesday, September 21, 2011

WHL RENEWS PARTNERSHIP WITH NEULION

Press Release

Calgary, AB – The Western Hockey League (WHL), a premier development hockey league based in Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest, and NeuLion, Inc. (TSX:NLN), the true end-to-end technology service provider for delivering live and on-demand content to any Internet-enabled device, today announced the re-signing of another multi-year agreement to deliver live and on-demand video of WHL hockey games to fans worldwide.

Powered by NeuLion technology, WHL LIVE provides coverage of all 22 teams in the WHL and will deliver nearly 800 games throughout the regular season which begins September 22, 2011.

New this season, WHL LIVE will offer an enhanced viewing experience through a large pop-up video console for live and archived games. The enhanced interface will support the latest in adaptive streaming technology, including the ability to detect a viewer’s bandwidth and seamlessly adjust the picture quality to eliminate buffering or intermittent viewing. The upgraded service also provides higher quality video and lets fans pause and rewind live games.

The upgraded digital platform across all WHL teams allows for the future delivery of content to other Internet-connected devices such as mobile smartphones, tablets, connected TVs and gaming consoles.

Also commencing this season, fans can take advantage of a live support chat option, accessible right from the WHL LIVE site, which instantly connects them to a customer support team member to resolve any issues.

“We are committed to providing our fans with the very best hockey experience. NeuLion’s technology allows us the ability to meet the needs of our fans and future-proof our service as digital media expands to more devices. As a league, we are committed to the future of digital marketplace and value NeuLion’s partnership to keep us at the forefront,” said Ron Robison, Commissioner of the WHL.

NeuLion’s platform supports content delivery to multiple Internet-connected devices and long-term sustainability as new connected devices and advancements are introduced into the market. NeuLion’s service empowers its partners and their fans the ability to choose how and when to watch their favourite content while engaging in a truly immersive experience.

“We are excited to present these exciting new features to WHL fans. We are committed to working with the WHL to provide innovative viewing experiences that keep fans connected anywhere at any time on any device,” said Marc Sokol, Executive Vice President at NeuLion.

The WHL and NeuLion have introduced new packages, including early bird pricing, for the upcoming season to provide fans with more viewing options. Visit http://whl.neulion.com to learn more.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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